IWC - Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR Geneva Friday, November 11, 2016 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: IWC
    Year: 1991
    Reference No: 3770
    Movement No: 2'438'088
    Case No: 2'552'047 also stamped 47/50
    Model Name: Grande Complication
    Material: Platinum
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 79091, 71 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Alligator
    Clasp/Buckle: Platinum IWC pin buckle
    Dimensions: 42.5mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by fitted leather travel case and IWC service papers dated September 6, 2016
    Literature: This reference is fully documented in the book “The Grande Complication from IWC” by Manfred Fritz and published in 1991

  • Catalogue Essay

    In 1985, during the midst of the quartz crisis, IWC set out to create what would be its first grande complication wristwatch - and one of the world’s most complicated timepieces: a wristwatch featuring a perpetual calendar, a chronograph, and the king of complications, a minute repeater. A team of watchmakers and engineers was commissioned, and along with two young wunderkinds of complicated horology, Dominic Renaud and Giulio Papi (who are today behind some of Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille’s most complicated movements) were tasked to create IWC’s grande complication. After five years of painstaking development work and 12 patents, this horological masterpiece was officially presented at the Basel fair in 1990. The project was officially documented in the book “The Grande Complication from IWC” by Manfred Fritz published in 1991. The 42.5 mm platinum case of the present lot houses an automatic caliber with no less than 568 components that give life to 18 functions: hour, minute and seconds displays, moon phase, month, day and date displays, perpetual calendar, indication of year, decade, century and millennium, chronograph seconds counter, chronograph minutes counter, chronograph hours counter, minute repeater, quarter repeater and hour repeater. The present lot, number 47 of 50, is a fiercely masculine timepiece in appearance, yet eloquently showcases the delicate work of the watchmakers who brought it to life. The IWC Grande Complication proudly stood against the tide of quartz watches that were flooding the market, and is a timepiece that certainly helped bring back interest in fine, mechanical complicated movements. It set the benchmark for the multi-complicated watch trend that was to follow into the new millennium, and the present lot in platinum, preserved in immaculate original condition, is one of the finest examples of this historic watch to appear on the market.

  • Artist Biography

    IWC

    Swiss • 1868

    With a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868. The company has gained an international reputation based on a passion for innovative solutions and technical ingenuity. One of the world's leading brands in the luxury watch segment, IWC crafts masterpieces of haute horlogerie at their finest, combining high precision with masculine design. Vintage wristwatches such as the oversized Portugieser, Aquatimer, Ingenieur and the B-UHR pilots watch are especially desirable for collectors.

    View More Works

Σ137

Ref. 3770
A very fine and very rare limited edition oversized platinum perpetual calendar minute repeating chronograph wristwatch with moonphase

1991
42.5mm. Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF40,000 - 70,000 
€36,700-64,300
$41,200-72,100

Sold for CHF50,000

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
+41 22 317 81 89

Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR

Geneva Auctions 12 – 13 November 2016